Puducherry election: AINRC to contest 16 seats, as part of NDA

Puducherry: In another step of efforts to make inroads into the union territory in the South, the BJP on Tuesday has assumed the key role as lead party of the NDA, in seat allocation, despite the fact that the NDA in Puducherry is headed by AINRC (All India N Rangaswamy Congress).

The BJP which as per its own announcement will share 14 seats announced that the AINRC will contest 16 seats in the April 6 assembly polls for the 30 seats in Puducherry as a constituent of the NDA.

After the alliance talks, BJP in-charge of the union territory, Nirmal Kumar Surana told reporters here that negotiations were held by leaders of AINRC, AIADMK and BJP and the Rangasamy-led party has been earmarked 16 seats while the saffron party and AIADMK have been allotted remaining 14.

"These two parties (BJP and AIADMK) would decide the number of seats for each of them," he said.

Surana further said, "The NDA would face the elections here in the name of most successful and popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the alliance is headed in Puducherry by Rangasamy.

Asked who was the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, Surana said it would be decided by the legislatureafter the election.

Rangasamy asserted that the NDA headed by AINRC would romp home and form the next government in Puducherry.

"We will capture large number of seats to form the government. The AINRC, AIADMK and BJP are constituents of the NDA here," he said.

Puducherry State BJP president V Saminathan and AIADMK secretary of Puducherry A Anbalgan were also present at the press meet.

(Based on PTI feed)